Machine for making expanded-metal structures



May 21, 1929. w. A. BATES MACHINE FOR MAKING EXPANDED METAL STRUCTURES Filed Aug. 5, 1927 f 7""va, 15

J P i i 15 Patented May 21, 1929.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER A. BATES, OF GARY, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO WALTER BATES STEEL CORPO RATION, 01? GARY, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE. it

MACHINE FOR MAKING EXPANDED METAL STRUCTURES.

Application filed August 5, 1927. Serial No. 210,826.

The present invention relates to machines for making expanded metal structures.

More particularly the present inventlon relates to means for shearing and stretching ing portions of the flanges of commercial angle shapes, the particular shape chosen for illustration being one illustrated and described in applicants co-pending application Serial No. 152,799, filed December 6,1926, for expanded metal structures.

According to the present invention a machine is provided-for modifying a commercial rolled shape to cut and stretch portions thereof, and has for one of its objects the provision of mechanism well adapted to meet the needs of commercial service. i r

A further object is to provide a machine for cutting and stretching lacings from a commcrcial rolled shape, which is positive in its action and which will hold said lacings in predetermined relationship with the remainder of the shape.

Further objects will appearas the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings Figures 1, 2 and3 are views in top plan, slde elevation and end elevation, respectively, of an expanded metal structure of the type which may be produced by the machine illustrated and described in the present application;

Figured is a view in side elevation show ing more or less diagrammatically a machine embodying the principles of the present in vention; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 5&5 of Figure 4:.

Referring first to Figuresl to 3, the numeral indicates an angle having the flanges 10 and 10 one of which flanges (indicated by the numeral 10) is provided with the pair of longitudinally extending cuts 11-11, the eX tremities of which are spaced apart by the un cut portions 12-12. 'The cuts 11-11 do not involve the removal of any metal Not only is the metal cut as indicated the nu morals 11 11, but the edge portion of the flange is swedged or stretched to provide diagonals or lacmgs, indicated by the numerals l313, which diagonals or lacings are symmetrically disposed relative to the uncut por-- by valves (not shown).

tions 1212 between the cuts 1111. Disposed symmetrically with relation to the diagonals 13.13 are the flat portions 14-14, each of which flat portions lat-1%; may be provided with a hole 15, whereby the angle swedged as shown inFigures 1, 2 and 3 may be riveted or otherwise secured to a similarly swedged angle to form a truss.

Referring-to Figures l and 5, it will be noted that the angle 10 is mounted upon the support 16, said angle resting upon said support withits reentrant angle receiving said support. Clamps 17 and 18 are provided for clamping the two flanges of said angle upon said support 16. Said clamps 17 and 18 may be held, in clamping relationship with the angle 10 by means of the piston rods 19 and 20, respectively,.which piston'rods may be controlled by the cylinders 21 and 22, respectively. Valves (not shown) may beprovided for controlling the pressure within said cylinders 21 and 22. The numeral 23 indicates a knife blade, which in side elevation has the shape of a truncated V.- Said knife 28 is secured to the piston rod 24:, movement of which is controlled by the cylinder 25.- The pressure within said cylinder 25 may be controlled Said knife 23 is adapted to have a reciprocating movement in a vertical plane, and in its downward movement is adapted to engage the flange 10 of the angle 10 at a region along the edge of said flange 10% The shearing action of the blade 23 produces the cut 11 and elongates and stretches the metal between the cut 11 and the outer edge of the flange 10 to form the diagonals-13'-13 and theintermediate flat portion 14. In the. shearing and stretching action referred to it is essential to support said lacings 13-13, inasmuch as the tendency to stretch on the outer edge of said lacing is not the same as on the inner edge thereof. In order to make these two edges stretch equally, resistance rollers 26-26 are providedwhich are mounted upon pistons 27+27 movable to ward and away from one another in a plane one another at an intermediate portion of the operative stroke of said blade 23. Pres sure is exerted upon said rollers 26-26 opposing the force of the blade 23 tending to move them apart. Said pressure is provided by the cylinders 28-28, which maintain said rollers in contact with the lacings 1313 as they are formed and stretched by the blade 23.

When the knife blade 28 has completed a stroke in a downward direction and returns to its uppermost position, the rollers 26-26 should be moved laterally of said lacings, whereby the formed metal structure may be readily removed from the support 16 in a longitudinal direction. In order to provide this lateral movement of the rollers 2626, means are provided for moving the cylinders 2828 in a direction transverse to the plane oi? the cutting blade 23. According to the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the means for accomplishing this purpose includes a cross-head 29 secured to each piston 27, which crosshead is supported and guided by the guides 3030, {laid crosshead 29 is provided with a hole extending transversely to the plane of the knife blade 23, which hole slidably receives the shaft 31. The corresponding roller 26 is rotatab-ly dis posed upon an extremity of the shaft 31. T he other extremity of said shaft 31 is provided with gripping means 32 by means of which the shaft 30 may be manipulated in an axial direction to place the roller 26 in cooperative relationship with the lacings 13 or out of cooperative relationship with said lacings. Any convenient means (not shown) may be provided for holding the roller 26 in operative position during the cutting and swedging operation of the knife blade 23. Any preferred valve means may be used with the cylinclers 28 to control the pressures therein and to cause the rollers 26-26 to return to positions in proximity with one another prior to the inauguration of the next cutting and stretching stroke of the knife blade 23.

If preferred, each roller 26 may be slightly tapered, said roller decreasing in diameter in a direction from the outside edge of the flange being operated upon toward the other flange.

Said taper will compensate for the difl'en ence in stresses to which the two side edges of the lacings 1313 are subjected, and will also aid in the removal of the roller in adirection transversely oi. the plane of the blade 23.

The machine illustrated and described produces a perfectly square lacing bar in so far as the inner and outer edges thereof are concerned. The machine is positive in its action and subjects the member being operated upon to only such stresses as are requisite in performing the desired operation. I

Though a preferred embodiment of present invention has been described in the tail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is- 1. In a shearing and stretching machine, in combination, means for holding a member to be operated upon, a reciprocatory cutting blade, said blade having cutting edges angularly disposed relative to one another, and pressure rollers movable toward and away from one another and adapted to be moved apart by the pressure exerted by said angularly disposed edges of said cutting blade in the cutting operation of said blade.

2. In a. cutting and shearing machine, means for supporting a member to be operated upon, a cutting blade, said cutting blade 7 being wedge-shaped in its cutting plane, and pressure rollers movable toward and away from one another in a plane parallel to he cutting plane oi": said blade'in a direction at right angles to the line of movement of said blade, said rollers being located in position to be urged apart by the force exerted by the wedge-shaped portion of said blade.

3. In a cutting and shearing machine, means for supporting a member to be operated upon, a cutting blade, said cutting blade being wedge-shapedin its cutting plane, pressure rollers movable toward'and away from one another in a plane parallel to the cutting plane of saidblade, and means for moving said rollers axially in a plane transverse to the cutting plane of said blade.

, 4:. In a cutting and shearing machine, means for supporting a member to be operated upon, a reciprocatory blade, said blade being Wedge-shaped in its cutting plane, a pair of rollers movable toward and away from each other in a plane parallel with thecutting plane of said blade, and pressure cylinders for controlling said rollers, said rollers being positioned to receive force for spreading same apart from said wedgeshaped blade in the operative movement 01'' said blade.

5. In a cutting and shearing machine,

"means for supportinga member to be operated upon, a reciprocatory blade, said blade being wedge-shaped in its cutting plane, a pair of rollers movable toward and away from each other in a plane parallel with the cutting plane of said blade, pressure cylinders for controlling said rollers, said rollers being positioned to receive force for spreading same apart from said wedge-shaped blade in the operative movement of said blade, and means for moving said rollers in a direction transversely of the cutting plane of said blade.

Signed at Gary, Indiana, this 29th day of July, 1927.

WALTER'A. BATES. 

